Episode Transcript
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Kris Harris (00:09):
Welcome back to the
Kore Kast.
I'm your host, Kris Harris, andI'm thrilled to kick off season
four of our journey togetherthrough the vibrant world of
health and wellness.
Whether you're a fitnessfanatic, a Pilates enthusiast or
someone just beginning toexplore your wellness journey,
(00:30):
you're in the right place.
In this season, we're going todive deep into a wide array of
topics that matter, everythingfrom the latest in Pilates
techniques and fitness trends toessential mental health
insights and holistic wellnesspractices.
With nearly two decades ofexperience as a certified
personal trainer, pilatesinstructor and health coach, I'm
here to share expert tips,inspiring stories and practical
advice to help you live yourhealthiest, happiest life.
(00:52):
It's time to unlock your truepotential.
Welcome to Season 4.
Hey there, wonderful people,you're listening to Kore Kast,
where we dive deep into thetopics that matter most for your
health and well-being.
Today, we're talking aboutsomething that hits really close
to home for me breaking freefrom sugar addiction.
Let me take you back to threeyears ago, when I found myself
(01:14):
sitting in my car secretlydevouring an entire pack of
cookies.
After promising myself I'd quitsugar, that very morning I was
trapped in a cycle that feltimpossible to break.
Every day started with goodintentions, but by afternoon,
I'd find myself making excusesto grab something sweet,
anything to satisfy thatoverwhelming craving.
(01:35):
My energy levels wereconstantly crashing, my skin was
breaking out and I feltcompletely out of control around
sugary foods.
It wasn't just about willpowerI was genuinely struggling with
what I later learned was a realaddiction.
The worst part I knew it wasaffecting my health, but I felt
powerless to change.
(01:55):
That's why today's episode isso important to me, and I
believe it will resonate withmany of you too.
We're going to explore whysugar has such a powerful hold
over us, how it affects ourhealth and, most importantly,
practical steps to break freefrom its grip.
Whether you're dealing withintense sugar cravings or simply
want to make healthier choices,this episode is your first step
(02:18):
towards sweet freedom, the kindthat doesn't come in a candy
wrapper.
Let's dive into the fascinatingscience behind sugar addiction,
because understanding what'shappening in your body and brain
is the first step towardbreaking free.
Have you ever wondered why thatchocolate bar feels less like a
choice and more like a necessity?
Well, there's a biologicalreason for that.
(02:39):
When you eat sugar, your brainreleases a flood of dopamine,
the same feel-good chemicalthat's triggered by certain
drugs.
This isn't just a pleasantcoincidence.
It's your brain's reward systemworking exactly as nature
intended.
The problem is, we've takenwhat was once a rare natural
reward and turned it into aneveryday indulgence.
(03:00):
Each time you consume sugar,your brain's reward pathway
lights up like a Christmas tree.
But here's the catch Over timeyou need more and more sugar to
get that same pleasurableresponse.
Your brain actually rewiresitself, demanding increasing
amounts of sugar to feelsatisfied.
This is why one cookie rarelyfeels like enough anymore.
(03:22):
But the effects go far beyondjust cravings.
When you consume sugar, yourblood glucose levels spike
rapidly, followed by an equallydramatic crash.
This roller coaster doesn'tjust affect your energy levels.
It impacts your mood,concentration and even your
mental health.
Studies have shown that highsugar consumption is linked to
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increased rates of anxiety anddepression.
The physical impact is equallyconcerning.
Your body responds to highsugar intake by releasing
insulin, a hormone that helpsprocess all that glucose.
But when this system isconstantly overwhelmed, it can
lead to insulin resistance,weight gain and inflammation
throughout your body.
It's like running your carengine at full speed all the
(04:04):
time, eventually.
And inflammation throughoutyour body.
It's like running your carengine at full speed all the
time.
Eventually.
Something's got to give.
What makes sugar particularlytricky is its effect on your
stress response.
When you're feeling anxious oroverwhelmed, your body naturally
craves quick energy, and sugarprovides exactly that.
It's a short-term solution thatcreates a long-term problem,
(04:25):
setting up a cycle of stresseating that can feel impossible
to break.
Your gut health also takes ahit from excessive sugar
consumption.
The bacteria in your digestivesystem actually influence your
cravings, and a diet high insugar feeds the very bacteria
that make you crave more sugar.
It's a vicious cycle thataffects not just your digestion
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but your entire body'swell-being.
You might be surprised to learnthat sugar isn't just hiding in
obvious places like desserts andsodas.
It's lurking in many foodsyou'd never suspect, silently
adding up throughout your day.
Let's uncover these hiddensources that might be sabotaging
your health goals.
Take your morning routine, forinstance.
That healthy-looking granola.
(05:08):
It often contains more sugarper serving than a chocolate
chip cookie.
Your favorite breakfast yogurtit could be packing more sugar
than a scoop of ice cream.
Even that whole grain bread youchose for its health benefits
might harbor several grams ofadded sugar per slice.
Condiments are another majorculprit.
Just one tablespoon of ketchupcontains about four grams of
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sugar.
Salad dressings, particularlythe fat-free varieties often
compensate for flavor with addedsugars.
And that store-bought pastasauce.
It might contain more sugar perserving than a couple of
chocolate chip cookies.
Here's where things get tricky.
Sugar doesn't always appear assugar on the ingredient list.
Manufacturers use over 60different names to disguise it.
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Look out for anything ending inO's like fructose, dextrose or
maltose.
Other sneaky terms include cornsyrup, fruit juice concentrate,
barley malt, rice syrup andanything with the word syrup or
nectar.
Even foods marketed as healthyalternatives can be sugar bombs
in disguise.
Energy bars, smoothie bowls andinstant oatmeal often contain
(06:16):
astronomical amounts of addedsugars.
That bottle of vitamin water?
It might have nearly as muchsugar as a regular soda.
Plant-based milk alternatives,particularly flavored varieties,
can contain surprising amountsof added sugars.
When reading labels, rememberthat 4 grams of sugar equals 1
teaspoon.
(06:37):
The American Heart Associationrecommends no more than 6
teaspoons of added sugar dailyfor women and 9 for men.
But here's the challenge theaverage American consumes about
17 teaspoons every day, oftenwithout realizing it.
Don't be fooled by naturalsugars either.
Whether it's honey, agave,nectar or coconut sugar, your
(06:58):
body processes them similarly toregular table sugar.
While they might contain traceminerals, they still impact your
blood sugar and contribute toyour overall sugar intake.
Now that we understand wheresugar hides, let's dive into
practical strategies to breakfree from its grip.
The key is to make sustainablechanges that work for your
lifestyle, not to attempt acomplete overnight
(07:20):
transformation that might leaveyou feeling overwhelmed.
Start by planning your mealsahead of time.
When you have healthy,satisfying options readily
available, you're less likely toreach for sugary convenience
foods.
Fill your kitchen withprotein-rich foods, healthy fats
and high-fiber vegetables.
These nutrients help stabilizeblood sugar and keep cravings at
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bay.
When sugar cravings hit andthey will have a game plan ready
, keep fresh fruit, nuts orunsweetened yogurt on hand.
Sometimes, what we interpret asa sugar craving is actually
thirst or hunger for somethingelse.
Try drinking a glass of wateror eating a protein-rich snack
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before giving in to the sweettooth.
Let's talk about practicalsubstitutions.
Instead of sweetened beverages,infuse water with fresh fruits
or herbs.
Replace sugary breakfastcereals with overnight oats
topped with fresh berries.
When baking, experiment withreducing sugar gradually.
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Most recipes work fine with 25%less sugar than called for.
Use spices like cinnamon,vanilla and nutmeg to enhance
natural sweetness without addingsugar.
Meal timing plays a crucial rolein managing cravings.
Eating regular, balanced mealsprevents blood sugar crashes
that often lead to sugarcravings.
Include protein and healthyfats at every meal and don't
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skip breakfast.
Starting your day with aprotein-rich meal sets you up
for better blood sugar control.
When dining out, be strategic.
Check menus in advance and planyour order.
Don't be afraid to ask formodifications.
Request dressings and sauces onthe side.
Skip the glazes and choosegrilled options over fried ones
that often come with sweetcoatings.
(09:07):
Pay attention to your sleep andstress levels.
Poor sleep and high stress canincrease cravings for sugary
foods.
Develop a consistent sleepschedule and find healthy ways
to manage stress, like exercise,meditation or spending time in
nature.
Remember progress isn't linear.
If you indulge occasionally,don't let it derail your entire
(09:28):
journey.
The goal isn't perfection, butprogress.
Focus on crowding out sugaryfoods with nutritious
alternatives rather thanfocusing on restriction.
This mindset shift makes thetransition more sustainable and
enjoyable.
Consider tracking your foodintake for a few days, not to
restrict, but to understand yourpatterns.
(09:48):
Notice when sugar cravings arestrongest and plan accordingly.
Maybe you need a moresubstantial lunch to prevent
afternoon energy crashes, orperhaps you need to rethink your
evening routine if that's whencravings peak.
Let me share some inspiringstories from people who've
successfully broken free fromsugar's hold.
Take Sarah, a busy mom who usedto rely on sugary snacks and
(10:11):
sodas to get through her hecticdays.
After gradually reducing hersugar intake over three months,
she noticed her afternoon energycrashes disappeared completely.
Now she maintains stable energylevels throughout the day and
has lost 15 pounds withoutfeeling deprived.
Then there's Michael, a formerenergy drink addict, who
(10:33):
consumed the equivalent of 30teaspoons of sugar daily just
from beverages.
Since switching to water andunsweetened tea, his anxiety
levels have plummeted and hisdentist reported a dramatic
improvement in his oral health.
He saved over $100 monthly onsugary drinks alone.
Many people report unexpectedbenefits beyond weight loss.
Lisa, a chronic insomniac,found that her sleep quality
(10:55):
improved dramatically withinweeks of reducing sugar.
She now falls asleep faster andwakes up feeling refreshed,
something she hadn't experiencedin years.
The physical transformationsare remarkable too.
Numerous individuals reportclearer skin, reduced joint pain
and improved digestion.
Mark, a type 2 diabetes patient, worked with his doctor to
(11:18):
reduce sugar intake and saw hisblood sugar levels stabilize to
near normal ranges within sixmonths.
The mental clarity that comeswith breaking free from sugar is
another common theme.
Jennifer, a college professor,noticed she could focus better
during long lectures and nolonger experienced mid-afternoon
brain fog.
Her students even commented onher increased energy and
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engagement.
These benefits extend toemotional well-being, too.
Many report feeling more incontrol of their eating habits
and experiencing fewer moodswings.
They describe a freedom fromthe constant thinking about
sugar and when their next sweetfix will come spills over into
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other areas of life, leading toimproved relationships and
greater professional success.
Perhaps most importantly, thosewho've successfully reduced
their sugar intake report arenewed appreciation for natural
flavors.
Foods they once found bland nowtaste deliciously complex, and
fruits have become satisfyingdesserts rather than seeming
like a compromise.
As we wrap up today's episode, Ihope you're feeling inspired
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and empowered to take control ofyour relationship with sugar.
Remember, breaking free fromsugar isn't about deprivation.
It's about giving yourself thegift of better health, sustained
energy and mental clarity.
Let's quickly recap our keystrategies.
Start by becoming a sugardetective and reading those
labels carefully.
Replace sugary drinks withwater, unsweetened tea or
(12:53):
sparkling water with fresh fruit.
Plan your meals ahead to avoidthose sugar-craving emergencies,
and keep healthy snacks withinreach.
Most importantly, be patientwith yourself.
This is a journey, not a race.
Most importantly, be patientwith yourself.
This is a journey, not a race.
The stories we've shared todayprove that breaking free from
sugar is absolutely possible andthe benefits are truly
(13:14):
life-changing.
Whether you're looking toimprove your sleep, boost your
energy, lose weight or simplyfeel better overall, reducing
your sugar intake can be thegame-changer you've been
searching for.
Remember, every small step awayfrom sugar is a step toward
better health.
Your future self will thank youfor starting today.
Until next time, this is Chrisreminding you that true
(13:37):
sweetness in life doesn't comefrom sugar.
It comes from taking care ofyourself and feeling your
absolute best.
Thank you for joining me on thisepisode of the Kore Kast.
I hope you're feeling inspiredand empowered to take your
health and wellness journey tothe next level.
Remember, every small stepcounts and I'm here to support
you every step of the way.
(13:57):
If you enjoyed today's episode,I'd love for you to share it
with your friends and family,and if you're feeling generous,
consider donating at the linkprovided in the description.
Your support helps us to keepbringing you the Kore Kast every
week, packed with valuableinsights and expert advice.
For more resources, tips andupdates, don't forget to visit
(14:17):
our website at www.
k ore-fit.
com and follow us on Instagramat korefitnessaz.
Join our community and let'scontinue this journey together.
Until next time, stay healthy,stay happy and keep striving for
your best self.
This is Kris Harris signing offfrom the Kore Kast and I'll see
you next week.